Last week, we offered all our newsletter subscribers a selection of free mock up and stock photos to play around with and use. Well, it was a treat to see new designs pop up and lots of creatives make these images their own!

It was especially rewarding to see Claire from Periwinkle and Clay launch cards for the first time using our styled card images. Take a look at what she came up with.

Claire took this design from her clay tiles and turned it into a card:

Here's what Claire had to say:

I've been meaning to investigate greeting cards and prints for a while using some of the designs I've recently been working on. Some of the recent worded tile designs I've designed for the clay tile frames for Father's Day could be adapted to greeting cards/prints.

So it was perfectly timed to allow me to mock up a design and use it as a test piece on the Periwinkle and Clay Facebook page to test the waters. I always love testing the water with product ideas so see what my followers think, as the result has been overwhelmingly positive I'll look into some small print runs and see if they sell well.

So thank you Copper Boom for your lovely freebies and enabling a small business test an idea for new products so easily.

You're totally welcome, Claire! We wish you the best of luck with your Father's Day cards. There will be some loved Dads around this June, we can tell!

The good news is, the creative industries are booming. Designer-makers, creative entrepreneurs, artists, poets and visionaries are more able than ever before to set up shop, share their story and sell their work.

And we're all better off for it. The handmade mug, the unique jewellery, the beautiful artwork: our desire for expressing ourselves through the work of others is higher than ever. We can't get enough!

But with this rise in marketplaces, small businesses, and creatives putting their work out there, it becomes even more important to stand out in your own unique way, and tell your story.

Here are our five tips to stand out from the crowd and boost your engagement with customers online.

1. Get yourself out there in the first place!

Step one: publish products, post on social media, and do it all regularly. One of the biggest misnomers we see from small businesses is this idea that they're spamming their followers to being "too noisy". You're more likely to be under-posting, in comparison to the amount of stuff out there. So your first step is to pick up the pace.

2. Look consistently amazing.

Okay, there are days when we're not on our A game. We're human, after all. But having consistently awesome visual content is an essential part of a successful marketing strategy. We're visual creatures, which is partly why social media is so powerful. Create a look for both products and lifestyle photos, and work to make sure you're looking particularly sparkly.

3. Do something unique.

Whether it's adding a signature colour pop, hilarious caption, or the use of a particular eye-catching prop, having your own unique style makes your brand more memorable. It's like a fingerprint - something that has YOU written all over it. Most likely this will evolve as you start posting more, but pay attention to what might work consistently as your unique way of sharing what you do.

4. Shine your weird light brightly.

Okay, maybe it's not that weird. But show your personality, or that of your products, to attract the customers who resonate with those qualities. For example, if you're into hilarious swearing, make sure you're showing people your hilarious swearing. If your products are quietly sophisticated, shine that soft, subtle light for the people who are attracted to it. It may not be neon, but it does need to be consistent.

5. Share your story - in big ways and small.

Having a clear and engaging about page is really helpful. It can boost your SEO, as well as giving potential customers a clear backstory to who's behind their new favourite products! Part of the benefit of re-visiting your about page is that you can also hone smaller parts of your story: the key anecdotes or qualities that you can share every now and then on social media, or in a printed note in your parcels. Rather than visual, this is about words and stories that get people interested in what you do.

Need a hand to stand out?

As part of all our creative services, we'll work with you to identify the key unique selling points you have as a brand, whether that's for a new set of photographs, an about page, or your social media content. Our photography skills and writing experience is incredibly high, but it's this commitment to uncovering what will help you stand out that we think is the most valuable service we offer.

As you may have guessed from the subject line, we have good news and bad news.

The good news is...

We're here to stay. Copper Boom Studio is so much fun, and we're delivering better content than ever with better feedback and a stronger team. Boom.

The bad news is...

It's time to put our prices up. This is never easy, but we want to make sure we're modelling a viable business model, set up for the long term. (Jenny wouldn't have it any other way.)

Since we became VAT registered last November, we've taken most of the hit on the extra 20%. We adore supporting small businesses, so this isn't an easy decision. But we're confident in our ability to offer value, quality and brilliant service as we head towards our first birthday.

And so, from 1 June 2017, our prices for half-day and full-day shoots will be going up.

But we've got your back

More good news! You can book in before 1 June for any date later in the year at our current prices.

That's right. You can lock in the current prices of £300 inc VAT for a half-day and £500 inc VAT for a full day.

When Louise (the Bookishly Boss) mentioned she was launching a wholesale frame offering, we knew it would be awesome. We also needed some frames.

Welcome, Frameishly

After semi-joking about 'Frameishly' as a name, it's now kind of stuck, and we love it!

We now have full stock of standard frame and mount sizes.

We worked with Louise to get a full sample collection of all the frame colours, sizes and mount options to keep in our studio. Which means, for standard sizes, you don't have to post your frames if you're sending us prints to shoot.

You can even buy the frames we use in our photos.

One of the beautiful things about this collaboration is that we LOVE these frames. The quality is great, and the price is awesome for small businesses. You can buy everything on the Frameishly section of the Bookishly website. And if you need anything that isn't listed yet, Louise is ready to hear from you.

2017 is in full swing now and, as usual, we've been busy with a whole host of varied photo shoots. Recently, the products we've been receiving here at the studio have been providing a bit of life inspiration:

Shooting these gorgeous leather travel accessories for Magpie Decor immediately got us craving some winter sun. Have a look at the rest of their wanderlust-inducing range: http://www.magpie-decor.com/

The jumper on the left, from The Little Pancake Company, with its yoga mat styling and get-fit vibe had us cracking on with our healthy lifestyle resolutions.

The Après ski jumper by Baby Yorke, on the other hand, had us reaching for a hot chocolate with all the trimmings. Everything in moderation, right?

Check out The Little Pancake Company here: https://www.thelittlepancakecompany.com/collections/all-products/products/hello-wellness-cosy-chia-me-up-jumper and Baby Yorke here: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/partners/babyyorkedesigns/products

Finally, we've just finished shooting these paper-cut party decorations for Rosie and the Boys. Of course, as they were cake toppers, we had to bring in cupcakes. Edible props are the best kind of props!

That's the end of the little snapshot onto our shoots at the beginning of February. Now, excuse us whilst we finish up all the leftover cupcakes...

Here's how it works: each week, we'll post a blog listing the types of props we're looking for. In exchange for a prop (some we'd like to keep and some we'll just borrow), we'll take a dedicated product photo for you to use. Simple!

Last Thursday we had a little shindig in the barn! It was so lovely to be able to show clients, family and friends where we work and what goes on behind-the-scenes.

We thought we'd give those of you who weren't able to make it some snapshots of what went on...

Bethan, one of our immensely talented stylists, was the brains behind the party decorations. Obviously no party would be complete without some glittery copper swizzle sticks…

Clients old and new came along to see where all their products get sent! Pictured here are Sarah and Chris from 'Talking Grass' and Rosie, from 'Rosie and the Boys'.

The party really felt like a huge milestone. We only started seven months ago and to be able to show the barn to new and existing clients was really exciting. Who knows where the next seven will take us?

The nearest train stations are Cambridge and Waterbeach. Both require a taxi, and we recommend Panther taxis: 01223 715715

A glass of something sparkly and nibbles will be available, but make your own dinner plans!

We're a friendly bunch and this is a fairly casual gathering to celebrate the start of Copper Boom. Please feel free to introduce yourself to Jenny, Holly and the whole team. We're so looking forward to seeing you!

It's been a busy start to the New Year here at Copper Boom; two weeks have already flown past in a flurry of photo shoots, copy writing and launch party preparations.

Here's a little look in to some of the photo shoots that have been going on...

Candy Queen has been supplying us with plenty of novelty door knobs and light switches over the past two weeks. Cows, dinousaurs - you name it, we've shot it. Hop on over to her website to check them out: www.candyqueendesigns.co.uk.

Wednesday morning was spent shooting bunting, made by Have a Gander. Loved shooting this with our newly revamped mantelpiece (look how beautiful those logs are!) Take a look over at www.haveagander.biz.

On the subject of the mantelpiece - it was created for us by theworkbenchshop, in exchange for images of their beautiful, custom-made display stands and cases. Best prop swap ever? Yes. Get inspired by more beautiful carpentry at www.etsy.com/shop/theworkbenchshop.

Lastly, a quick sneak-preview of an exciting new project for the new year - a range of stock photography images, all ready for you to just simply add your design. Watch this space!

It's 20 December. Christmas Day is Sunday. Not naming any names, but some of us still have some gifts to buy...

So we thought it would be helpful to share a little list of some small businesses that are still offering delivery in time for Christmas on some or all of their range. There's still time to #supportsmall!